{
  "id": 8610964,
  "name": "R. E. CAYTON v. G. A. CLARK and MASON HOWARD",
  "name_abbreviation": "Cayton v. Clark",
  "decision_date": "1937-11-03",
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  "analysis": {
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:30:43.466662+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
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  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "R. E. CAYTON v. G. A. CLARK and MASON HOWARD."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Stacy, C. J.\nEven if it be conceded tbat upon tbe facts found by tbe judge tbe question of excusable neglect may fairly be debatable under tbe decision in Sutherland v. McLean, 199 N. C., 345, 154 S. E., 662 (delimited in Carter v. Anderson, 208 N. C., 529, 181 S. E., 750; Kerr v. Bank, 205 N. C., 410, 171 S. E., 367, and Dail v. Hawkins, 211 N. C., 283, 189 S. E., 774), still tbe judgment would seem to be correct as there is neither allegation nor finding of any meritorious defense. This is fatal to appellant\u2019s case. Bowie v. Tucker, 197 N. C., 671, 150 S. E., 200; Bank v. Duke, 187 N. C., 386, 122 S. E., 1; Land Co. v. Wooten, 177 N. C., 248, 98 S. E., 706; School v. Peirce, 163 N. C., 424, 79 S. E., 687; McLeod v. Gooch, 162 N. C., 122, 78 S. E., 4; Hardware Co. v. Buhmann, 159 N. C., 511, 75 S. E., 731; Norton v. McLaurin, 125 N. C., 185, 34 S. E., 269; Taylor v. Gentry, 192 N. C., 503, 135 S. E., 327; Albertson v. Terry, 108 N. C., 75, 12 S. E., 892. \u201cWe do not consider affidavits for tbe purpose of finding facts ourselves in motions of this sort.\u201d Gardiner v. May, 172 N. C., 192, 89 S. E., 955; Holcomb v. Holcomb, 192 N. C., 504, 135 S. E., 287.\nIt would be idle to vacate a judgment where there is no real or substantial defense on tbe merits. Lumber Co. v. Cottingham, 173 N. C., 323, 92 S. E., 9; Land Co. v. Wooten, supra. \u201cUnless tbe court can now see reasonably tbat defendants -bad a good defense, or tbat they could make a defense tbat would affect tbe judgment, why should it engage in tbe vain work of setting tbe judgment aside ?\u201d \u2014 Brown, J., in Glisson v. Glisson, 153 N. C., 185, 69 S. E., 55. \u201cOne-wbo asks to be relieved from a judgment on tbe ground of excusable neglect must show merit, as otherwise tbe court would be asked to do tbe vain thing of setting aside a judgment when it would be its duty to enter again tbe same judgment on motion of tbe adverse party\u201d \u2014 Allen, J., in Crumpler v. Hines, 174 N. C., 283, 93 S. E., 780.\nA party who seeks to be relieved from a judgment on the ground of excusable neglect or irregularity must show merit, otherwise the court would be engaged in the vain procedure of setting aside a judgment, when, if there be no defense, it would be its duty to enter the same judgment again on motion of the adverse party. Woody v. Privett, 199 N. C., 378, 154 S. E., 625; Taylor v. Gentry, supra; Duffer v. Brunson, 188 N. C., 789, 125 S. E., 619.\nAffirmed.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Stacy, C. J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Roberts & Williford for plaintiff, appellee.",
      "John G. Dawson for defendant, appellant."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "R. E. CAYTON v. G. A. CLARK and MASON HOWARD.\n(Filed 3 November, 1937.)\nJudgments \u00a7 33\u2014\nA denial of a motion to set aside a judgment under C. S., 600, will not be disturbed on appeal when there is neither allegation nor finding of a meritorious defense, and the Supreme Court will not consider affidavits for the purpose of finding facts in motions of this sort.\nAppeal by defendant, Mason Howard, from Cranmer, J., at May Term. 1937, of Pitt.\nMotion made under O. S., 600, to vacate judgment on ground of excusable neglect.\nTbe case was tried at tbe April Term, 1937, of Pitt Superior Court, in tbe absence of tbe defendant and bis tben counsel (be is now represented by other counsel), albeit tbe case was regularly set as tbe first on tbe calendar for Monday, 19 April, and continued until late in tbe afternoon of tbat day to await tbe arrival of defendant\u2019s counsel wbo lived in Kinston, a distance of thirty miles from Greenville, but wbo failed to appear.\nTbe judge found tbe facts relative to defendant\u2019s alleged excusable neglect and denied tbe motion. Defendant appeals.\nRoberts & Williford for plaintiff, appellee.\nJohn G. Dawson for defendant, appellant."
  },
  "file_name": "0374-01",
  "first_page_order": 444,
  "last_page_order": 446
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